PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Berzins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Ponjev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Berzins
vs
Ponjev

180 cm
27
170 lbs
14 - 3 - 0

185 cm
27
180 lbs
17 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

VIRAL COMBAT

VIRAL COMBAT
DROPPIN BODIES

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Samuel Berzins!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam Ponjev!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Chris Saunders and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berzins lands with a good body shot.
Ponjev shoots in but Berzins avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Berzins scores with a jab.
Ponjev slips a straight right by Berzins.

Berzins clinches with his opponent.
Berzins tries to work over Ponjev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ponjev blocking some punches.
Berzins swings wildly with an uppercut but Ponjev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Berzins misses with some punches.
Berzins misses with a hook from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ponjev drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Berzins lands a hook that snaps the head of Ponjev backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponjev blocks a body shot from Berzins.
Berzins lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ponjev backwards.
Ponjev is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Samuel Berzins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Ponjev.
Berzins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ponjev looking for a takedown.
Berzins misses with some punches.
Berzins throws a punch but it's blocked by Ponjev.
Berzins misses with some punches.
Ponjev drops down looking for an ankle pick but Berzins pulls his leg out and moves away.
Berzins lands a jab.
Berzins misses the shot to the body.
Samuel Berzins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ponjev is defended easily by Berzins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev blocks a jab.
Berzins throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Berzins lands an overhand right.
Ponjev takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ponjev takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ponjev checks a low kick from Berzins.
Ponjev misses with a hook.
Berzins tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ponjev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Berzins misses with a body shot.
Berzins lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ponjev circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice jab there from Berzins.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Berzins tries to sprawl but Ponjev drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Berzins wants to get back to full guard.
Berzins is trying to stand up here but Ponjev is controlling him well.
Ponjev throwing shots but Berzins is blocking nicely.
Ponjev scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Berzins tries to get to full guard but Ponjev has control of the leg.
Ponjev perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Let's hope that Ponjev has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Berzins wants to control but Ponjev is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berzins is looking to escape.
Berzins wants to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ponjev slips under a jab.
Ponjev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Berzins stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Berzins wants it to stay on the feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Berzins throws a shot from downtown. Ponjev moves away and avoids it.
Berzins digs a good hook to Ponjev's body.
Berzins connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ponjev's hands.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Berzins takes a swing at Ponjev's ribcage but misses.
Berzins misses with a body punch

and Ponjev counters with a shoot takedown. Berzins fights it but they end up in guard.
Berzins knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ponjev on the ground.
Berzins wants to sweep here but Ponjev controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samuel Berzins dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ponjev thows a left - swing and a miss!

Ponjev shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ponjev takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ponjev content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ponjev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Ponjev is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Berzins is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Sam Ponjev!
Sam Ponjev is the new welterweight champion!
Sam Ponjev decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.